An apparatus and system for supplying power to different devices at different levels. The apparatus includes an input port for receiving power from an external source. A first converter is provided for converting the input power to a first DC voltage, and a second converter for converting the input power to a second DC voltage. Ethernet ports are provided for supplying, at least in part, the first DC voltage to a first type of device. MoCA ports are provided for supplying, at least in part, the second DC voltage to a second type of device.

A dynamic satellite map updating system measures geographic position and travel information of in-flight aircraft in a fleet of aircraft equipped to establish in-flight connectivity services from a plurality of satellite beams. The in-flight aircraft include an on-board satellite map program with satellite map parameters to indicate which satellite beam of a group of available satellite beams is the most desirable based on the in-flight aircraft's geographic location. The system selects in-flight aircraft, determines updated satellite map parameters for the selected aircraft, and transmits the updated satellite map parameters to the aircraft to assemble new satellite map programs to relieve wireless data outage conditions on one or more of the satellite beams. The dynamic satellite updating system may transmit the updated satellite map parameters over an existing satellite data connection to make up-to-date adjustments to the communications load among the group of available satellite beams.

Methods and systems are described for providing end-to-end beamforming. For example, end-to-end beamforming systems include end-to-end relays and ground networks to provide communications to user terminals located in user beam coverage areas. The ground segment can include geographically distributed access nodes and a central processing system. Return uplink signals, transmitted from the user terminals, have multipath induced by a plurality of receive/transmit signal paths in the end to end relay and are relayed to the ground network. The ground network, using beamformers, recovers user data streams transmitted by the user terminals from return downlink signals. The ground network, using beamformers generates forward uplink signals from appropriately weighted combinations of user data streams that, after relay by the end-end-end relay, produce forward downlink signals that combine to form user beams.

Techniques for data transmission including receiving, at a geostationary earth orbiting satellite, forward-direction user data via a forward optical link; transmitting, by the geostationary earth orbiting satellite via multiple radio frequency (RF) spot beams, the forward-direction user data received via the forward optical link; receiving, at a stratospheric high-altitude communication device, forward-direction user data via multiple concurrent forward RF feeder links; transmitting, by the stratospheric high-altitude communication device via the forward optical link, the forward-direction user data received via the forward RF feeder links; transmitting, by each of multiple ground-based feeder RF terminals at a same RF feeder site, a respective one of the forward RF feeder links. At least 95% of forward feeder data throughput for all of the forward RF service link transmissions by the satellite is carried via the forward optical link and the forward RF feeder links.

In an exemplary embodiment, a phased array antenna comprises multiple subcircuits in communication with multiple radiating elements. The radio frequency signals are independently adjusted for both polarization control and beam steering. In a receive embodiment, multiple RF signals of various polarizations are received and combined into at least one receive beam output. In a transmit embodiment, at least one transmit beam input is divided and transmitted through multiple radiating elements, with the transmitted beams having various polarizations. In an exemplary embodiment, the phased array antenna provides multi-beam formation over multiple operating frequency bands. The wideband nature of the active components allows for operation over multiple frequency bands simultaneously.

Methods and systems are described for providing end-to-end beamforming. For example, end-to-end beamforming systems include end-to-end relays and ground networks to provide communications to user terminals located in user beam coverage areas. The ground segment can include geographically distributed access nodes and a central processing system. Return uplink signals, transmitted from the user terminals, have multipath induced by a plurality of receive/transmit signal paths in the end to end relay and are relayed to the ground network. The ground network, using beamformers, recovers user data streams transmitted by the user terminals from return downlink signals. The ground network, using beamformers generates forward uplink signals from appropriately weighted combinations of user data streams that, after relay by the end-end-end relay, produce forward downlink signals that combine to form user beams.

A method of space communication for IoT or equivalent services increases the number of terminals served on a space transmission resource while limiting the signaling used by the terminal. This limitation is obtained on the one hand by the allotting to each terminal of a logical beam, corresponding to a predetermined fixed geographical area wherein the terminal lies. This limitation is obtained on the other hand by management, centralized at the level of a central entity for connecting to the space network, of the association of the terminal with a logical beam and of the association of the resources bound for the logical attachment beam. A space telecommunications system implements a method of space communication. The method of space communication allows transparent switchover from a terrestrial system to the space system when the terrestrial system and the space system are integrated to a high degree, particularly at the level of the terminal.

A dynamic satellite map updating system measures geographic position and travel information of in-flight aircraft in a fleet of aircraft equipped to establish in-flight connectivity services from a plurality of satellite beams. The in-flight aircraft include an on-board satellite map program with satellite map parameters to indicate which satellite beam of a group of available satellite beams is the most desirable based on the in-flight aircraft's geographic location. The system selects in-flight aircraft, determines updated satellite map parameters for the selected aircraft, and transmits the updated satellite map parameters to the aircraft to assemble new satellite map programs to relieve wireless data outage conditions on one or more of the satellite beams. The dynamic satellite updating system may transmit the updated satellite map parameters over an existing satellite data connection to make up-to-date adjustments to the communications load among the group of available satellite beams.

Methods and systems are described for providing end-to-end beamforming. For example, end-to-end beamforming systems include end-to-end relays and ground networks to provide communications to user terminals located in user beam coverage areas. The ground segment can include geographically distributed access nodes and a central processing system. Return uplink signals, transmitted from the user terminals, have multipath induced by a plurality of receive/transmit signal paths in the end to end relay and are relayed to the ground network. The ground network, using beamformers, recovers user data streams transmitted by the user terminals from return downlink signals. The ground network, using beamformers generates forward uplink signals from appropriately weighted combinations of user data streams that, after relay by the end-end-end relay, produce forward downlink signals that combine to form user beams.

The present invention relates to satellite systems and more particularly, to the provision of novel systems and methods for verifying the in-orbit performance and operation of satellite communications subsystems. In contrast to traditional Payload IOT (in-orbit test), the invention operates without an uplink signal, by generating hardware-specific signatures using isolated, internally generated, thermal noise. It has been found that this noise provides a very stable, repeatable signal for testing. Prior to launch, a repeater command sequence is executed to generate a hardware-specific signature based on the internally-generated noise. The same repealer command sequence is then executed in-orbit to determine whether the hardware-specific signature has changed. The two signatures may be recorded and compared using a simple tool such as a spectrum analyzer. The methods also include novel use of the sun as a test signal source to calibrate equipment, to quantify atmospheric effects and to be used as an intermediate reference power level during measurements.